The Most Merciful Of Those Who Show Mercy?

[ConfusedSkeptic]

I've been raised to believe that God is the most merciful of those who show mercy. In fact, one of His names is The Merciful. So, I guess that He's not all-merciful. But is this description true? Consider this:

Given that:
1. God is all-knowing, all-wise and all-powerful
2. Humans have free will
3. Disbelievers anger God
4. Disbelievers will burn in hell forever

Case study:
1. God knows that if He creates person X that X will CHOOSE to reject Him
2. God knows that X will anger Him
3. God knows that X will burn in hell forever
4. God creates X
5. Therefore, God is all-wise and He's the most merciful of those who show mercy

I don't think that the conclusion follows from the premises at all.

Therefore, God is all-wise:
How? What is the wisdom behind creating X? God will be angry with X, and X will burn in hell forever. Nobody wins.

Therefore, God is the most merciful of those who show mercy:
God knows that X will be created only to (choose to) burn in hell, and He creates X. Why does God allow this to happen? Does that make Him merciful? Again, what is the wisdom behind creating X? Is it that God is looking for a reason to torture X? For all I know, if I had that power and knowledge, I wouldn't let that happen.

What do you guys think? Do you agree or not? Why?

[Desdinova]

Assuming you are talking about the god of the Abrahamic religions, then no, god is not merciful at all.  He's a petty, jealous and short-tempered son of a bitch.  Anyone who reads the bible can see that.

[Sargon The Grape]

You should look up a series called "Attack the Text" in which two former Christians do a weekly literary analysis of the Bible. They just got done with Genesis. My favorite running joke of the series is, "If bad things happen to you, don't worry: God will make of your seed a great nation." (So where the fuck is my nation, God!? :P )

[Mike Cl]

Simply read the first two chpt of the babble and you can see that gwad is not merciful or even smart.  You will see he is pretty much like you--confused.

[Solomon Zorn]

You're on the right track, with your deduction that God isn't merciful. Now just take it a step further and realize that he isn't real.

[stromboli]

         



I think Epicurus covers it.

[doorknob]

God is not merciful or he would not send people to hell for an eternity. Period. That's not merciful that's just sadistic.

[GSOgymrat]

I've come to the conclusion that the Abrahamic religions make zero sense, they have no logical consistency, and I'm giving up even trying to understand them.

[stromboli]

God is not merciful or he would not send people to hell for an eternity. Period. That's not merciful that's just sadistic.

Right. This is part of the stretching of common sense that religion does. An eternal god that built a vast universe and all that entails creates a group of people for the sole purpose of worshiping him and gives them a short finite time limit to either accept or reject him. On top of that he makes them curious, insightful and continually seeking after the truth and then tells them not to. Makes sense.

[Mike Cl]

         



I think Epicurus covers it.

I think I've seen this somewhere................

[Mike Cl]

I've come to the conclusion that the Abrahamic religions make zero sense, they have no logical consistency, and I'm giving up even trying to understand them.

That is probably wise.  I've found that logic and reason makes no impact whatsoever. 

[Unbeliever]

In fact, one of His names is The Merciful.

Also, one of his names is Jealous:
Exodus 34:14
"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"

I doubt that "merciful" and "Jealous" go well together.

[ConfusedSkeptic]

Quran 2:30

Sahih International

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

[antediluvian]

Oh to have back the time squandered debating  unmerciful and non-existent god.

[Solomon Zorn]

Quran 2:30

Sahih International

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

What is your point with this particular quote?